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IN  THE  REDWOODS 


BY 


FANNIE  DEC.  MILLER 


READ    BEFORE   S.    F.    SOROSIS, 
REDWOOD    DAY, 

APRIL    1,    1895. 


'  2  f:  c  "!_ 


LOAN  STACK 


,««s 


IN  THE  REDWOODS. 


Stately  and  tall  these  giants  of  the  West, 
Stand  like  an  arm}-  marshalled  for  the  fray, 

Where  the  great  mountain's  brow  is  daily  blessed 
By  the  last  kiss  of  the  departing  day. 


204 


IN    THE    REDWOODS. 


Rank  after  rank  along  the  rocky  ledge, 

Up  the  steep  heights  with  ceaseless  march  they  climb, 
Clinging  undaunted  to  the  rude  cliff 's  edge, 

Unchanged  by  seasons  and  untouched  by  time. 


Here  nature  from  her  overflowing  store 

Pours  forth  her  floral  gifts  with  lavish  hand, 

Seeking  with  ceaseless  largess  to  restore 
The  fading  beauties  of  the  Sunset  Land. 

Like  elfin  forests  how  the  ferns  uplift 

Their  curious  fronds,  and  all  around  my  way 

The  dainty  maiden-hair  clothes  every  rift 

In  bank  and  bluff.     The  sighing  winds  that  stray 


IN    THE    REDWOODS. 


\ 

From  the  far  ocean,  touch  with  mute  caress 
The  balsam-breathing  branches  overhead, 
Whose  fadeless  foliage  with  deep  shadow  bless 
The  ever  blooming  vistas  where  I  tread. 

And  here  from  duty's  bonds  a  space  set  free, 
Life's  daily  cares  forgotten  for  the  time, 

I,  happy  wanderer,  fancy  that  I  see 
The  open  portals  of  a  fairy  clime. 


IN    THE    REDWOODS. 


The  clear  sweet  notes  of  bird-song  far  and  near, 
The  thickets  rustling  to  the  breezes'  swell, 

The  swift,  light  footsteps  of  the  startled  deer, 
The  sound  of  waters  rippling  through  the  dell, 


/A'  THE 


Scarce  break  the  silence  of  these  solitudes, 
But, — like  the  notes  of  music  in  a  dream, — 

The  blended  voices  of  the  solemn  woods 

TJirill  through  my  being  with  a  joy  supreme. 

I  linger,  wrapped  in  bright  Elysian  dreams, 

Soothed  by  the  peaceful  calm  of  these  fair  bowers, 

Where  brokenly  the  golden  sunlight  gleams, 
And  incense  rises  from  uncounted  flowers: 


IN    THE    REDWOODS. 


Till,  as  the  grim  Magician  from  his  cave 

Came  forth  with  glittering  wand  in  days  of  old,- 

Looking  upon  these  forests — monarchs  brave, 
A  vision  of  the  future  I  behold. 


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/A'    THE    REDWOODS. 


A  down  these  aisles  I  mark  the  Wizard  7<v/7, 

Pass  with  his  gleaming  axe,  beneath  whose  blows 

The  mighty  offspring  of  the  fertile  soil, 

Shall  soon  sore-smitten  writhe  in  deadly  throes, 


/Ar    THE 


Till  severed,  to  the  flower-strewn  sod  they  fall, 
Exiled  from  hence, — behold, — they  rise  again, 

In  humble  cottage  or  in  lofty  hall, 

By  toil  transformed  to  happy  homes  for  men. 

Or,  fashioned  by  the  patient  worker's  skill, 
Cradle  the  babe  the  mother  sings  to  sleep, 

Or,  in  Death's  silent  chambers  hold  the  still, 

Cold  forms  of  those  Lore  yields  to  Him  to  keep. 


/A-    THE 


Perchance  yon  spreading  tree,  whose  red  veins  now 
Are  warm  with  nectar  from  the  verdant  sod, 

May  list  the  chanted  hymn,  the  whispered  vow, 
Breathed  in  the  Temple  of  the  Living  God. 


The  vision  passes,  still  the  shadows  fall, 

The  glen  untrampled  smiles  in  peace  serene, 

The  might}'  guardians  of  the  mountain  wall, 
Lift  to  the  sun  their  banner's  emerald  sheen, 


IN    THE    REDWOODS. 


Music  and  fragrance  on  the  balmy  air, 

The  hum  of  bees,  the  quail's  far-reaching  call, 

The  awe  that  floods  great  Nature's  house  of  prayer, 
The  wondrous  feast  of  Joy  She  spreads  for  all, 

Are  mine  in  fullest  measure,  the  dim  woods 
Unvail  their  hidden  secrets  to  my  gaze, 

As  to  thy  charms  O  sylvan  solitudes ! 

I  wreathe  with  tender  love  my  song  of  praise. 


/A'    7V/  /i    RE /WOODS. 


Towering  monarch  of  our  forest, 
Giant  Ruler  great  and  grand, — 

Sequoia  Sempervivens! 

fleetest  symbol  of  our  Land  : 

California !  California ! 

This  sunny  land  of  ours 
Binds  our  hearts  in  strange  devotion 

By  her  wealth  of  fragrant  flowers  : 


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IN  THE 


By  her  vales  of  peace-crowned  beauty, 
By  her  sun-kissed  dimpling  hills, — 

By  her  shady  tangled  moss-glades 
Trembling  to  the  zephyrs'  trills : 


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Her  stretch  of  vine-clad  uplands, 

And  billowy  tide  of  grain 
That  sweeps  in  undulations 

Like  Pacific's  swelling  main. 

And  by  the  pride,  and  hope,  and  glory 
Of  her  crowning  crown,  and  boast — 

The  evergreen  Sequoias 

Sturdy  Redwoods  of  our  Coast ! 


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